Reconfigurable ocean-going vessel

ABSTRACT

The vessel includes a hull, a main deck on the hull, and a superstructure on the main deck. The vessel may further include a lower deck below the main deck and bulkheads within the hull crossing the lower deck.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a reconfigurable boat and a method of reconfiguring a reconfigurable boat.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a reconfigurable ocean-going vessel that substantially obviates one or more of the problems due to limitations and disadvantages of the related art.

An advantage of the present invention is to provide a boat that may be customized based on requirement of a mission.

Another advantage of the present invention is to provide a boat that may be reconfigured based changing mission requirements.

Additional features and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the description which follows, and in part will be apparent from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The objectives and other advantages of the invention will be realized and attained by the structure particularly pointed out in the written description and claims hereof as well as the appended drawings.

To achieve these and other advantages and in accordance with the purpose of the present invention, as embodied and broadly described, a water-going vessel includes: a hull; a main deck on the hull; a superstructure on the main deck, including crew quarters in the superstructure; a lower deck below the main deck; and a plurality of mission-configurable cavities between the main deck and the lower deck.

In another aspect of the present invention, a water-going vessel, includes: a hull; a main deck on the hull, the main deck including a fore deck and an aft deck; a main deckhouse on the main deck; and a bridge deckhouse on the main deckhouse, wherein the aft deck includes sunken portion for stowing a recoverable boat.

In another aspect of the present invention, a water-going vessel, includes: a hull; a main deck on the hull; and a removable superstructure on the main deck, wherein removable superstructure is designed to be detachable from the main deck, repositioned and reattached to the main deck.

It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory and are intended to provide further explanation of the invention as claimed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and together with the description serve to explain the principles of the invention.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 illustrates an inboard profile view of a water-going vessel according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 illustrates a plan view of a bridge deck of the water-going vessel according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 illustrates a plan view of a main deck of the water-going vessel according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 illustrates a plan view of a lower deck of the water-going vessel according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating options of placing mission modules at mission-configurable spaces of the vessel according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 illustrates a top view of a bridge deck of the water-going vessel according to a configuration of the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 illustrates a top view of a main deck of the water-going vessel according to a configuration of the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 illustrates a top view of a lower deck of the water-going vessel according to a configuration of the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 illustrates an arrangement of tanks in a profile view of the water-going vessel according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 illustrates the arrangement of tanks in a plan view of the water-going vessel according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 illustrates a profile view of a hull of the water-going vessel according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 illustrates a plan view of the hull of the water-going vessel according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 illustrates a body plan view of the hull of the water-going vessel according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 14 illustrates a sectional view of the hull of the water-going vessel according to the embodiment of the present invention, looking forward from a transom of the hull.

FIG. 15 illustrates a detailed sectional view of a chine of the water-going vessel according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 16 illustrates a perspective view of the transom and the underside of an overhang of the hull of the water-going vessel according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 17 illustrates a detailed sectional view of a chamfer between the transom and the overhang of the hull of the water-going vessel according to the embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENTS

Reference will now be made in detail to an embodiment of the present invention, example of which is illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

The following detailed disclosure describes an ocean-going vessel that may be reconfigured to adjust to changing mission requirements. The vessel includes a hull, a main deck on the hull, and a superstructure on the main deck. The vessel may further include a lower deck below the main deck and bulkheads within the hull crossing the lower deck.

Reconfigurable features of the vessel include a superstructure that may be removed from and repositioned on the main deck of the hull, mission-configurable cavities, and mission-configurable spaces for accepting mission modules.

The superstructure may be removeably attached to the main deck of the hull. For example, the superstructure may be welded to the main deck, or the hull may include holes while the superstructure may include rods fitting into the holes, or vice versa. The superstructure may be removed in whole from the main deck, repositioned and welded back to the main deck, while maintaining the structure of the superstructure during the repositioning. The repositioning of the superstructure affects the center of gravity of the vessel. If the superstructure is positioned towards the bow, the vessel can accept a higher loading at the aft portion of the vessel. If the superstructure is positioned towards the stern, the vessel can accept a higher loading at the fore portion of the vessel. Also, since the superstructure may be removed, the hull can be used with a different superstructure. Thereby the vessel may have a reconfigurable outward appearance and mission purpose.

The vessel may include mission-configurable spaces and mission-configurable cavities. The mission-configurable spaces include spaces on the main deck and on the superstructure. Mission modules are positioned at the mission-configurable spaces. The mission modules may include one or more of: a 40 mm MK3; a 57 mm MK110; a rolling airframe missile (RAM) launcher; a 25 mm an MK38; a flex box; an MK45; a Close-In-Counter-Measure (CICM) system; a 40 foot International Standards Organization (ISO) container; a 20 foot ISO container; a helicopter, preferably a Little Bird Helicopter; a High Mobility Military Vehicle (HMMWV); a Tomahawk armored box launcher (ABL); a torpedo launcher; a towed sonar array; and a recoverable boat, such as Rigid Hull Inflatable Boat (RNIB) and stern ramp.

The mission-configurable cavities include cavities in the superstructure and cavities below the main deck, such as on a lower deck. The mission-configurable cavities are configured according to mission requirements, which includes: adjusting the placement of walls to separate cavities into smaller mission spaces; linking mission systems to electrical and water connections of the vessel; providing quarters to house mission personnel; providing storage to house; and providing storage rooms for mission equipment and mission supplies.

The vessel may include tunnels adjacent to mission-configurable cavities. The tunnels are sized to allow personnel access into the tunnels. Access to the tunnels facilitates reconfiguration of the mission-configurable cavities by allowing personnel to fasten mission systems to the lower deck and to link mission systems within the cavities to electrical and water connections at various positions with the cavities. The electrical and water connections may pass through the tunnels, linking mission systems to electrical and water supplies. Mission systems may include communications equipment, office equipment, lighting, sinks and laundry equipment.

When mission requirements change, the vessel can be reconfigured by: repositioning the superstructure; removing and replacing the mission modules; and reconfiguring the mission-configurable cavities.

Furthermore, the superstructure may have designated space and equipment for command and control of the vessel as well as quarters designated for housing the entire crew necessary for operating the vessel. For example, the superstructure may include two levels, including an upper level having space and equipment for command and control of the vessel and a lower level having quarters for housing the entire crew necessary for operating the vessel. Accordingly, when reconfiguring the vessel, these areas remain regardless of the mission requirements, thereby making reconfiguration of the vessel easier.

FIGS. 1-4 illustrate an embodiment of the water-going vessel.

In FIG. 1, a water-going vessel 2 includes a hull 4 and a superstructure 6. The hull 4 includes a main deck 8, bulkheads 10 and a lower deck 12. The main deck 8 covers the hull 4 and includes a fore deck 8 a and an aft deck 8 b. The fore deck 8 a is elevated above the remainder of the main deck 8. The bulkheads 10 are upright and transverse to the length of the vessel 2. The bulkheads 10 may span from the inside bottom of the hull 4 to the bottom of the main deck and from the port side to the starboard side of the hull 4. The bulkheads 10 may be watertight bulkheads (WTB), thereby isolating chambers between the bulkheads. The lower deck 12 is below the main deck 8 and above the bottom of the hull 4. The lower deck 12 crosses bulkheads 10 and includes a forward lower deck 12 a elevated above the remainder of the lower deck 12.

Cavities within the hull are formed within the hull 4 under the main deck 8, divided by the bulkheads 10 and lower deck 12. From left to right, the cavities include a lazaret 14, a water jet room 16, an engine room 18, mission-configurable cavities 20, tank storage rooms 22, and a chain locker 24.

On the hull 4, the superstructure 6 is positioned. The superstructure 6 includes a main deckhouse 26 and a bridge deckhouse 28. The main deckhouse 26 sits on the main deck 8, and the bridge deckhouse 28 sits on the main deckhouse 26.

As shown in FIG. 2, the bridge deckhouse 28 of the vessel 2 includes a bridge deck 30. The bridge deck 30 includes equipment and space for commanding and controlling the vessel 2. The bridge deck 30 is illustrated as including a bridge, a navigation station and a chart table.

As shown in FIG. 3, the main deck 8 of the vessel 2 includes the main deckhouse 26, a fore deck 8 a and an aft deck 8 b. The main deckhouse 16 includes a quarters section 32, a forward mission configurable space 34 and aftward mission configurable space 36. The quarters section 32 includes a space and furnishings sufficient to house all personnel required for operating the vessel 2. As shown, the quarters section 32 includes officer's quarter, four crew quarters, a guest quarters, four lavatories, an office, a boson locker, and a vertical trunk. The forward mission configurable space 34 is positioned forward to the quarters section 32, and the aftward mission configurable space 36 is position aft to the quarters section 32. Also in FIG. 3, two engine access hatches 37 are included in the aft deck 8 b.

The forward and aft mission-configurable spaces may be configured according to the mission requirements. For example, the forward mission configurable space 34 may be used for storing ammunition for weapons systems near the bow of the vessel 2. The aftward mission configurable space 36 may be used as a sonar room when the vessel is outfitted with a towed sonar array at a mission-configurable space near the stern of the vessel, and the aftward mission configurable space 36 may be used to store equipment and parts for a recoverable boat when a recoverable boat and stern ramps are outfitted at a mission-configurable space near the stern of the vessel.

As shown in FIG. 4, the lower deck 12 is crossed by bulkheads 10, thereby forming mission configurable cavities 38 between the bulkheads 10. Some of the bulkheads include openings 40, thereby allowing travel between the mission configurable cavities 38 separated by the bulkheads 10. As illustrated, one of the cavities is occupied by mess facilities and a galley.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating options of placing mission modules at the mission-configurable spaces of the vessel. Specifically, FIG. 14 illustrates a vessel 2 and mission-configurable spaces A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H and I, which correspond to the positions indicated on FIG. 1-4 by the same letters. Each of the mission-configurable spaces may accept a number of different mission modules, and each mission-configurable space corresponds to a longitudinal center of gravity from a baseline 104. If mission modules are placed off the centerline of the vessel, one mission module may be placed on the port side of the vessel and one mission module may be placed on the starboard side of the vessel. Thereby, the center of gravity of the opposing mission modules is on the centerline of the vessel.

In an exemplary embodiment, one or more of an MK45, a CICM system and a towed sonar array may be positioned at mission-configurable space A. One or more of an MK45, a CICM system, a 20 foot ISO container and a recoverable boat and stern ramp may be positioned at mission-configurable space B. One or more of a RAM launcher, a 25 mm MK38, a MK45, a CICM system, a 40 foot ISO container, a helicopter, a HMMWV, an Tomahawk ABL and a torpedo launcher may be positioned at mission-configurable space C. One or more of a MK45, a CICM system and a 20 foot ISO container may be positioned at mission-configurable space D. One or more of a flex box, a MK45 and a CICM system may be positioned at mission configurable space E. One or more of an MK45 or a CICM system may be positioned at mission-configurable space F. A mast may be positioned at mission-configurable space G. One or more of a flex box, a MK45 and a CICM system may be positioned at mission configurable space H. One of more of a 40 mm MK3, a 57 mm MK110, a RAM launcher, a 25 mm MK38, an MK45 and a CICM system may be positioned at mission-configurable space I.

An exemplary configuration is illustrated in FIGS. 6-8. Differences between FIGS. 1-4 and FIGS. 6-8 are discussed below. As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, a 40 mm MK3 is positioned at mission configurable space I. In FIG. 7, the aft deck 8 b includes a recoverable boat 44 and drop down stern ramp (not shown) for launching and recovering the boat 44, preferably a Rigid Hull Inflatable Boat (RHIB). To accommodate the recoverable boat, the aft deck 8 b includes sunken portion 46 that may be formed in a V-shape. The “v” angled nature of the aft deck area is designed to make maximum use of the available deck area for both on deck stowage of transportable ISO containers, as well as simultaneous stowage and operation of the recoverable boat. The aft-deck further includes a winch 48 for recovering and securing the boat 44 in the sunken portion 46 of the aft deck 8 b.

Although not shown, the aft-deck may further include a shelter covering an aft portion of the main deck and hiding the contents of the sheltered portion of the main deck. The shelter may span from the superstructure back to the transom and achieve a weather-protected as well as a visually-enclosed area for concealing cargo placement and operation.

As shown in FIG. 8, the mission configurable cavities 38 are configured to include walls to separate cavities into smaller mission spaces and doors to isolate the smaller mission spaces from other mission spaces. The mission spaces include a combat information center (CIC), a crew workspace, a galley, a crew mess hall, crew quarters, a store room, a laundry room, a magazine storage and a small arms locker.

FIGS. 9 and 10 illustrate an arrangement of tanks in according to the embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the vessel 2 includes tanks for fuel oil, lube oil and water. The water jet room includes a fresh water tank FW. The engine room includes a lube oil tank LO, a waste oil tank WO, a black water tank BW and a fuel oil tank FOD. The tank storage rooms include additional fuel oil tanks on the starboard and port sides FO-1 (SB), FO-1 (PORT), FO-2 (SB), FO-2 (PORT), FO-3 (SB), and FO-3 (PORT), and grey water tanks on the starboard and port sides GW (SB) and GW (PORT).

A tunnel is included between the starboard and port tanks in the tank storage rooms. The tunnel is sized to allow personnel to enter the tunnels and positioned to allow access to the lower deck. Electrical and water connections may pass through the tunnels to connect to mission systems in the mission spaces on the lower deck. Mechanical piping may be included in the tunnel for containing the electrical and water connections, and Common C4ISR Electrical/electronic bus may included to support all potential equipment, regardless of manufacturer. This would prevents preferential outfitting by any single supplier and permit full customization of the vessel.

As shown, the tunnel runs parallel to the length of the vessel. The tunnels may also run vertical and transverse to the length of the vessel.

FIGS. 11-17 illustrate a hull of the water-going vessel according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 illustrates a profile view of the hull 4 of the water-going vessel 2 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The stern of the hull 4 is on the left and the bow of the hull 4 is on the right. As indicated in the figure, the hull includes a hydrodynamic transom near the stern, and upper and lower chine along the length.

FIG. 12 illustrates a plan view of half of the hull viewed from the bottom. FIG. 13 illustrates a body plan view of the hull. The left side of the figure illustrates the vessel as viewed from behind the stern. The right side of the figure illustrates the vessel as viewed from in front of the bow.

FIG. 14 illustrates a sectional view of the hull 4 as viewed from the transom looking towards the bow. The chine 100 portion is circled in the figure. FIG. 15 illustrates a detailed sectional view of the chine 100 portion of the hull 4.

FIG. 16 illustrates a perspective view of the transom and the underside of an overhang of the hull, including the chine 100 portion. FIG. 17 illustrates a detailed sectional view of a chamfer between the transom and the overhang of the hull.

The hull may be manufactured of composite materials and manufacturing may utilize a one-off construction technique from jig frames. The main deck and the superstructure may be fabricated from aluminum.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the present invention without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Thus, it is intended that the present invention cover the modifications and variations of this invention provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents. 

1. A water-going vessel, comprising: a hull; a main deck on the hull; a superstructure on the main deck, including crew quarters in the superstructure; a lower deck below the main deck; and a plurality of mission-configurable cavities between the main deck and the lower deck.
 2. The vessel of claim 1, further comprising a tunnel adjacent to the mission-configurable cavities for connecting to the mission-configurable cavities.
 3. The vessel of claim 2, wherein the tunnel runs parallel to the length of the vessel.
 4. The vessel of claim 1, further comprising a bulkhead between adjacent mission-configurable cavities.
 5. The vessel of claim 4, wherein the bulkhead includes an opening allowing travel between the adjacent mission-configurable cavities.
 6. The vessel of claim 1, wherein the crew quarters in the superstructure include a space sufficient to house all personnel operating the vessel.
 7. The vessel of claim 1, wherein the hull is a monohull.
 8. The vessel of claim 1, further comprising another deck below the lower deck.
 9. The vessel of claim 1, wherein the superstructure includes a main deckhouse on the main deck and a bridge deckhouse on the main deckhouse.
 10. The vessel of claim 1, wherein the superstructure is a removable superstructure designed to be detached from the main deck, repositioned and reattached to the main deck.
 11. A water-going vessel, comprising: a hull; a main deck on the hull; and a removable superstructure on the main deck, wherein the removable superstructure is designed to be detached from the main deck, repositioned and reattached to the main deck.
 12. The vessel of claim 11, wherein the superstructure includes crew quarters having a space sufficient to house all personnel operating the vessel.
 13. The vessel of claim 11, wherein the hull is a monohull.
 15. The vessel of claim 11, further comprising: a lower deck below the main deck; and a plurality of mission-configurable cavities between the main deck and the lower deck.
 16. The vessel of claim 11, further comprising a mission-configurable mast.
 17. The vessel of claim 11, wherein the superstructure includes a main deckhouse on the main deck and a bridge deckhouse on the main deckhouse.
 18. A water-going vessel, comprising: a hull; a main deck on the hull, the main deck including a fore deck and an aft deck; a main deckhouse on the main deck; and a bridge deckhouse on the main deckhouse, wherein the aft deck includes a sunken portion for stowing a recoverable boat.
 19. The vessel of claim 18, further comprising: a lower deck below the main deck; and a plurality of mission-configurable cavities between the main deck and the lower deck.
 20. The vessel of claim 18, further wherein the main deckhouse and bridge deckhouse form a removable superstructure designed to be detached from the main deck, repositioned and reattached to the main deck. 